I am privileged to lead Sussex Police - a team of almost 6000 officers and staff, women and men, whose shared mission is to Serve Sussex.

The three 'pillars' upon which policing in Sussex in based are these:

• Keeping People Safe
• Neighbourhood Policing
• Making Best Use of Resources

What does that mean?

It means that we are in the business of catching criminals and cutting crime.

It means that we aim to provide a truly local service, working with and in communities where we must be visible and accessible at all times of the day or night.

It means that we must be there when people need us. We must also be 'match fit' to deal with those really major incidents that will arise from time to time.

It also means that, as one of the largest employers in the area, we must ensure that we are spending your money wisely, that our people are motivated and capable and that our processes are productive and effective.

Sussex remains a relatively low crime area and crime numbers continue to fall, but the sheer range of incidents that my officers and staff are called upon to deal with in any 24-hour period is truly impressive. I know that, in an ever tightening financial climate, there are many challenges ahead.

This is why partnership - working together - is more important than ever, whether formal partnerships between police, local authorities and other agencies, or less formal ones with local people and communities.

Our neighbourhood teams are now established all across the counties of West Sussex and East Sussex and the city of Brighton & Hove. But they cannot and do not work in isolation.

Serving Sussex is our business; but we can only be really successful if those that we serve engage with us in a joint endeavour to keep Sussex as safe and as free from crime as we can make it.

Email your feedback to Sussex Police